Memory board

ABSTRACT

A memory board having a column of items listed on its face and having an individual rotary indicator or pointer positioned abreast of each item for rotary movement between angular positions in which each pointer may either be angularly positioned to designate its associated item or else placed in an inoperative position. The board is formed with a rearwardly opening groove which is bridged by a plurality of relatively spaced apart bearing strips defining internal bearing surfaces disposed on a common cylinder having its cylindrical axis forwardly of and parallel to the board, the opposite circumferential ends of said strips being connected to the board at opposite sides of the slot. Rotary indicators having pointers projecting through the spaces between adjoining bearing strips have oppositely directed co-axial bearing portions journalled in relatively adjacent bearing strips respectively. The distances between the circumferentially directed ends of the respective bearing strips are somewhat less than the diameters of the bearings to be received therein, and the respective indicators and their said bearings are of annular resiliently deformable construction, whereby they may be snap-fitted into operative positions in the bearing strips.

United States Patent Thierer [151 3,693,580 1 Sept. 26,1972

[s41 MEMORY BOARD [72] inventor: .Walther Thierer, Nagold, Germany [73] Assignee: Firma Adolf l-lofele, Nagold, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 175,449

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 3, 1970 Germany ..G 70 32 909.8

[52] US. Cl ..116/134, l6/DlG. 13, 40/67 [51] Int. Cl ..G09f 9/00 [58] Field of Search..l l6/l i4, 134; 16/137, DIG. l3;

Fischbach ..1 16/134 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [5 7] ABSTRACT A memory board having a column of items listed on its face and having an individual rotary indicator or pointer positioned abreast of each item for rotary movement between angular positions in which each pointer may either be angularly positioned to designate its associated item or else placed in an in operative position. The board is formed with a rearwardly opening groove which is bridged by a plurality of relatively spaced apart bearing strips defining internal bearing surfaces disposed on a common cylinder having its cylindrical axis forwardly of and parallel to the board, the opposite circumferential ends of said strips being connected to the board at opposite sides of the slot. Rotary indicators having pointers projecting through the spaces between adjoining bearing strips have oppositely directed co-axial bearing portions joumalled in relatively adjacent bearing strips respectively. The distances between the circumferentially directed ends of the respective bearing strips are somewhat less than the diameters of the bearings to be received therein, and the respective indicators and their said bearings are of annular resiliently deformable construction, whereby they may be snap-fitted into operative positions in the bearing strips.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MEMORY BOARD This invention relates to memory boards of the class in which a plurality of manually movable indicators cooperates with a list of items, each item being associated with a given indicator, each indicator being selectively operable to designate its respective item. The items may consist of groceries, household articles, various tasks to be performed, errands to be run, run, or any of the vast number of items, all as will be readily apparent.

It is a primary object of the present invention to produce a memory board of the above general type which is capable of simple and economical production and manufacture, as well as convenience and ease of assembling, using and cleaning.

In accordance with the invention, the memory board comprises a substantially rigid flat panel having a front face and a rear face and formed with an elongated groove of uniform width opening through its rear face. A plurality of relatively spaced arcuate bearing strips extend across the groove, each being of more than l80 in angular extent and projecting forwardly from the front face of the panel, with its rear ends integrally connected to the panel at opposite sides of said groove and normally relatively spaced apart at a distance less than the internal diameters of the respective strips. A plurality of indicators are rotatably supported between such bearing strips. Each such indicator has oppositely projecting coaxial bearings journalled in the respective strips and includes a pointer projecting from between said strips for angular movement with the indicator to point toward or away from an individual item in a column of items extending parallel to the cylindrical axis of the bearing strips on the front face of the board.

To facilitate assembly of the reminder board, each such indicator including its bearings comprises an annular resiliently deformable member,the bearings of which are of somewhat greater diameter than the distance between the respective adjacent ends of the bearing strips so that they may be compressed and snap-fitted between said ends to be thereafter retained in their journalled relation within the bearing strips by their subsequent expansion. Each such indicator occupies the space between adjoining bearing strips and is in rotary axial engagement with said strips which determine the relatively axial positions of the respective indicators and function as thrust bearings for the same.

Preferably the outer surfaces of the indicators are cylindrical and of similar external diameter to the said bearing strips, whereby the bearing strips and indicators jointly present portions of a continuous cylindrical surface.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a front elevation of a reminder device in accordance with the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line ll-Il of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the rotary indicators.

Referring now in detail to the" accompanying drawings, the memory board or device shown in its assembled condition in FIG. 1, comprises a preferably flat surfaced panel 11 which may conveniently be of rectangular configuration. In the present embodiment, the panel 11 is formed of a suitable plastic material, preferably by an extrusion molding process and includes a plurality of integral parallel reinforcing ribs 12 extending along and projecting from its rear face.

A portion of the panel is projected or offset forwardly to form a housing 13 of arcuate cross-section which, in the preferred embodiment, is coextensive in length with the panel and which serves to define in the panel a rearwardly opening groove or slot 14 of arcuate cross-section. This housing is provided with regularly spaced slots 15 extending parallel to each other and transversely to the axis of curvature of the housing 13 so as to sub-divide the housing lengthwise into a plurality of relatively spaced arcuate bearing strips 16 projecting forwardly from the front face of the panel with its opposite ends integrally connected to the panel at the opposite sides of the groove 14. Each bearing strip 16 includes an arcuately curved bearing portion of slightly more than in angular extent and all of the bearing strips have their internal surfaces disposed on a common cylinder or surface of revolution.

Rotatably supported between adjoining such bearing strips for independent rotary movement about the axis axis of said common cylinder, are a plurality of rotary indicators 17, such as illustrated in FIG. 3. Each said indicator comprises an annular resiliently deformable member having an external diameter preferably equal to that of the bearing strips, so that the indicator members project radially between and in rotary axial abutment with the adjacent bearing strips which thus serve as thrust bearing to maintain the relative axial positions of the respective indicators. Each said indicator also includes oppositely projecting coaxial annular bearings l8-l8 of lesser diameter than the main body of the indicator member, said annular bearings respectively being journalled in the relatively adjacent bearing strips 16 with which the main body of the indicator is in axial thrusting engagement.

In order that the indicators 17 may be readily assembled and retained in operative relation with respect to the panel 11, the width of the mouth of the rearwardly opening groove in the panel is somewhat less than the internal diameters of the arcuate bearing strips and the external diameters of the bearings 18, which are journalled therein. However, the indicators, as above mentioned are of annular configuration and of a resiliently deformable plastic or other material so that they may be thrust into the groove from the rear with sufficient force to deform and diametrically compress the said annular indicator members sufficiently for them to pass through the mouth and into journalled relation within the portion of the groove defined by adjoining bearing strips 16. In thus assembling the parts, the main body of each indicator member will be inserted into position in registry with one of the slots 15 between adjoining bearing strips 16 for reception in such slot and to project between and be axially positioned by the opposing axial ends of the respective bearing strips.

On the front face of the panel is a vertical column of indicia in the form of a list of items 19 such as groceries. Each such item is located opposite one of the indicators and each of the indicators, in turn, is provided with radially outwardly directed indicating mean which may consist of a suitable radial pointer 20 projecting outwardly a substantial distance through its associated slot 15. Due to the fact that the bearing strips and the slots therebetween extend somewhat in excess of 180 in angular extent, it will be apparent that various rotary indicators may be manually rotated either to operative positions in which they point toward various individual items in the column of items or indicia 19, or else may be rotated to inoperative positions in which the pointers are directed away from the column of items. Obviously, the radially projecting pointers 20 of the respective rotary indicators function also as convenient actuating lever arms or handles for manually positioning the respective indicators.

Where the column of items on the board or panel consists of a grocery list as here illustrated, the various grocery items to be purchased by the user on a trip to the grocery store, may be readily designated by operatively positioning the pointers or indicators associated with the respective items to be purchased. As each such item is purchased, its associated indicator or pointer may be returned to inoperative position to await re-use in compiling a future grocery list.

Manifestly, such a device is easily and readily usable and is capable of repeated re-use. Both its construction and its operation are quite simple and such devices may readily and economically be produced and sold. It is to be particularly noted that the movable rotary indicators may be readily assembled to the device by inserting the pointer of each such indicator into the open rear side of the groove 14 and between a preselected cross-slot 15 between adjoining bearing strips 16 to function as a pilot for guiding the main body of the indicator accurately into position between the bearing strips as the indicator is forced into position within the groove. To this end, the pointer of each indicator is axially coextensive with the main body of the indicator. Since the indicator is resiliently deformable, it may readily be forced into the mouth of the groove to thereafter expand resiliently so as to resist subsequent withdrawal or inadvertent displacement. ln other words, the various rotary indicators may readily be snap-fitted into position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A memory board comprising a flat panel having a front face and a rear face and formed with a groove of uniform width therethrough; a plurality of relatively spaced arcuate bearing strips extending across said groove and connected to said panel at the opposite sides of said groove, each said bearing strip being slightly in excess of in angular extent, said bearing strips having internal surfaces disposed on a common cylinder spaced forwardly from the front face of said panel; a plurality of rotary indicators supported between adjacent said bearing strips for independent rotary movement about said axis; each said indicator comprising an annular resiliently deformable member having oppositely projecting coaxial bearings journalled in adjacent said bearing strips, said indicator projecting radially between and in rotary axial engagement with said adjacent bearing strips to axially position the respective indicators; the angularly opposed ends of each of the said bearing strips being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of said bearings, said indicators being of annular configuration and resiliently diametrically deformable to permit their diametrical insertion between said opposed ends and their subsequent snap-fitting within the respective bearing strips, said panel having a column of indicia thereon ar lel to the len o s d roove a di registry wilh t l'ie respective id in l i caors, and rad ially outwardly directed indicating means on said respective indicators for rotary movement with said indicators toward and away from said indicia.

2. A memory board as defined in claim 1, wherein said radially outwardly directed indicating means comprise radially directed pointers projecting through said slots and substantially outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said bearing strips to function as actuating arms for use in manually rotating the said indicators between their operative and inoperative positions.

3. A memory board as defined in claim 1, wherein said pointer of each indicator is axially coextensive with the main body of said indicator whereby to function as a pilot for guiding said main body accurately into position between relatively adjacent bearing strips.

4. A memory board as defined in claim 1, in which the said main body portion of each rotary indicator is of generally cylindrical configuration having an external diameter similar to the external diameters of the respective bearing strips, and the radial dimensions of the respective bearing strips equal the radial distance between the respective bearings and said external diameters of the rotary indicators.

. iJNiTED STATESEPMEM"owitt v QE RTEFECATE QQRREQTEQN P s t No. 3,693 I llet ed September 26, 1972 Inventors) WALTHER THIERER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent:

Page 1, Item [73] 0 change the name of the assignee from FIRMA ADOLF HOFEIE to FIRMA ADOLF HfiFELE Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973.

'QsEAL) Attestf:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 'ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 Q U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-33L 

1. A memory board comprising a flat panel having a front face and a rear face and formed with a groove of uniform width therethrough; a plurality of relatively spaced arcuate bearing strips extending across said groove and connected to said panel at the opposite sides of said groove, each said bearing strip being slightly in excess of 180* in angular extent, said bearing strips having internal surfaces disposed on a common cylinder spaced forwardly from the front face of said panel; a plurality of rotary indicators supported between adjacent said bearing strips for independent rotary movement about said axis; each said indicator comprising an annular resiliently deformable member having oppositely projecting coaxial bearings journalled in adjacent said bearing strips, said indicator projecting radially between and in rotary axial engagement with said adjacent bearing strips to axially position the respective indicators; the angularly opposed ends of each of the said bearing strips being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of said bearings, said indicators being of annular configuration and resiliently diametricalLy deformable to permit their diametrical insertion between said opposed ends and their subsequent snapfitting within the respective bearing strips, said panel having a column of indicia thereon parallel to the length of said groove and in registry with the respective said indicators, and radially outwardly directed indicating means on said respective indicators for rotary movement with said indicators toward and away from said indicia.
 2. A memory board as defined in claim 1, wherein said radially outwardly directed indicating means comprise radially directed pointers projecting through said slots and substantially outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said bearing strips to function as actuating arms for use in manually rotating the said indicators between their operative and inoperative positions.
 3. A memory board as defined in claim 1, wherein said pointer of each indicator is axially coextensive with the main body of said indicator whereby to function as a pilot for guiding said main body accurately into position between relatively adjacent bearing strips.
 4. A memory board as defined in claim 1, in which the said main body portion of each rotary indicator is of generally cylindrical configuration having an external diameter similar to the external diameters of the respective bearing strips, and the radial dimensions of the respective bearing strips equal the radial distance between the respective bearings and said external diameters of the rotary indicators. 